Human-machine dialog system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9411370-B2
Application number	US-201414160832-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2014
Priority date	Mar 22, 2013
Publication date	Aug 9, 2016
Grant date	Aug 9, 2016

Abstract

The invention concerns a human-machine dialog system ( 1 ) comprising:
a support ( 3 ) having a plurality of identical docking stations ( 30 ), each docking station ( 30 ) being associated with a universal human-machine dialog device ( 4 ), each universal human-machine dialog device ( 4 ) comprising at least a display member ( 41 ) and a sensor member ( 40 ), a plurality of modular members ( 2 ), each modular member ( 2 ) being arranged to be positioned in a docking station ( 30 ) in a removable and interchangeable manner and comprising a human-machine dialog interface ( 20 ) arranged to cooperate with said display member ( 41 ) and/or said sensor member ( 40 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A human-machine dialog system, comprising:
a support having a plurality of identical docking stations, each docking station being associated with a universal human-machine dialog device, each universal human-machine dialog device comprising at least a display member and a sensor member,
a plurality of modular members, each modular member being arranged to be positioned in a docking station in a removable and interchangeable manner and comprising a human-machine dialog interface arranged to cooperate with said display member and/or said sensor member, said plurality of modular members including a first modular member positioned in a first docking station and whose human-machine dialog interface is a control interface and a second modular member positioned in a second docking station and whose human-machine dialog interface is a display interface,
a central control unit arranged to receive a control signal from the sensor member of the first docking station when the control interface of the first modular member is activated and to send a control order to the display member of the second docking station to activate the display interface of the second modular member,
wherein
each modular member has an electronic tag storing in its memory the type of human-machine dialog interface of the modular member with which it is associated, and
the system has a station for reading the electronic tags that are incorporated into each modular member, said reading station having an antenna arranged inside the support.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the control interface has an activation button.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the sensor member has a switch with magnetic action.

4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the activation button bears at least one permanent magnet that can be activated by movement to act on the switch with magnetic action.

5. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the sensor member has a switch with mechanical action.

6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the activation button has an activation element arranged to cooperate with the switch with mechanical action.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor member has a capacitive, inductive, optical or resistive effect.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the support has means for fastening it to a wall and in that these fastening means have two orifices, each intended to receive a fastening screw.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein it has a central control unit and a cable linking said central control unit to the universal human-machine dialog devices, said central control unit being arranged to supply power to each universal human-machine dialog device and exchange signals with each universal human-machine dialog device.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the universal human-machine dialog devices are connected to the central unit by a multipoint link using a communication and power supply bus.

11. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the universal human-machine dialog devices are connected to the central unit by a point-to-point link.

12. The system according to claim 9 , wherein it has a wireless communication module arranged to exchange data with the central control unit via a wireless link.

13. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the docking stations are arranged in a contiguous manner on the support.

14. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the modular members are joined to the support using a cover attached to the support.

15. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the modular members are joined to the support using clipping means.

16. The system according to claim 1 , wherein each modular member has a square-shaped housing in which said human-machine dialog interface is mounted.

Assignees

• Schneider Electric Ind Sas

Inventors

• Benni Dominique
• Chauvet Francis
• Guillot Alain

Classifications

• H01H2229/022

  Modular assembly · CPC title

• H01H2300/032

  using RFID technology in switching devices · CPC title

• G06F1/1632 Primary

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• H03K17/972

  having a plurality of control members, e.g. keyboard · CPC title

• G06F3/0202 Primary

  Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device · CPC title